Bubble tower



July l5, 1930. E. E. BARTELS BUBBLE TOWER Filed sept; 28, 1927 Patented July 15, 1930 I' UNITED sTArE's'A-PATENT OFFICE EDWARD E. BARIELS, OF 'WHITIN G, INDIANA, ASSIGNOR TO STANDARD OIL CO]ll[I.A.'l\1'Y,l OIE'.'WI-IICLING, INDIANA, CORPORATION OF INDIANA BUBBLE TOWER Application led September 28, 1927. Serial No. 222,620.

The uquid seal or well poaion 21 0f the This invention relates to improvements in fractionating columns, and particularly to columns of the bubble cap type.

In co-pending application Serial No. v1,91,250,filed Ma 13, 1927, Perry J. Sweeney has described a ubble tower provided with' overflow pipes having'liquid seals therein, and adapted to discharge liquid at a point above the level of the liquid on the plate therebeneath.

The present invention relates particularly ltiq ap improvement in overiow pipes of this The invention will be readily understood from the following description taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is an elevational view of a column,

partly broken away to show plates and asso ciated parts. 4

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the overiiow pipe `on an enlarged scale; and

Fig. 3 is a similar view of a modilied for-m of overflow pipe.

Referring to the drawings, 10 is a fractionating column provided with bubble 4 plates 11 of the ordinary type. The column is provided at its lower end with avapor supply pipe 12 and a liquid draw-off p1pe 13, and at its upper end with a liquid supply pipe 14 and a-vapor-outlet 15. The overflow pipes 16 are provided with a liquid seal or trap, and with an outlet located above the liquid level of the plate next below.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, each of the overflow pipes 16 preferably comprises an upstanding nipple 17, a flange 18 therebeneath for attachment to a bubble cap plate, and a lower body portion constituted by sides 19.and a wall portion 2O which extends,

downwardly from said flange, closes the bottom-ofthe nipple 17 and then proceeds upwardly forming with-the sides 19 a well 21. The'wall 20 then bends downwardly again and, together with extensions of the sides 19, formsa spout 22 which terminates somewhat above the .level of the liquid maintained in the..nextinferiorvplate A septum 23 extends. between the Asides 19 and from the flange 18, into. the well 21 s o as to establish a liquidseal therein..

overflow pipe 16 is provided with a hole or orilice 24, at a low portion thereof and preferably at its lowest point. y The orifice 24 is of such a size that itpermits only a part of the down-coming liquid to pass therethrough so that sealing liquid is maintained in the well 21 and a substantial part of the flow passes over the spout 22. Since the size of the orifice depends upon the volumeof the flow, it is impossible to state definitely what size it should be in any particular case. By way of illustration, however, it may be stated that in bubble towers used forfractionating petroleum distillates an orifice of about one inch diameter has been found suitable for overiowpipes in which the nipple 17 is about six lnches in diameter.

Asshown in Fig. 3, the overflow pipe y16 may be in the form of a pipe of uniform diameter having a bend which constitutes a liquid sealtherein. The orifice 24 is proy vided in the lowest point of thisy bend.

In operation, the down-flowing liquid passes into the overliow pipe through the nipple 17 and lills the liquid seal or well 21, so

as to prevent upward passage ofthe vapors therethrough. A stream of the liquid issues from the orilice 24, carrying withit solid matter which might otherwise collect in the well 21. As previously indicated,this stream ordinarily constitutes only a part of the down-llowing liquid, the remainder passing out over the spout 22. i

Although the present invention has *been described in connection with the details of a,

said well and adapted to discharge liquid continuously therefrom.

2. An overflow pipe for bubble cap towers comprising` a nipple adapted to project above a bubble plate to which it is to be attached, a.

t extending therefrom,

well'portion, a spou` l and a wail extending into saldwell portion to constitute a liquid seal therein, saidlpipe being provided with a relatively small nor-l mally unclosed orifice at a low point of said well.

3. A bubble tower, comprising a plurality of superimposed plates, a bubble plate, an overflow pipe therefor, ingprovided with a liquid seal portion, a discharge 'above the liquid level of the next inferior plate, and a normally unclosed perforation at a low point of said seal portion and adapted to discharge liquid continuously.

4:. A bubble tower comprising a plurality of superimposed plates, a bubble plate, an overflow pipe, therefore said overow-pipe being provided with means constituting a receptacle vided with a normally unclosed orifice at the lowest point of said receptacle and adapted to discharge liquid continuously upon the plate therebeneath.l

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand, this Sth day of September, 1927.

EDWARD E. BARTELS.

said overflow pipe be-l for sealing liquid therein and pro- 

